New NY Legislation Will Let Teachers Report Student Safety Concerns to a Judge

The legislation will allow NY teachers and school officials to alert a judge about students they worry could pose a threat to themselves or others.

By Jessica Davis

February 27, 2019

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Monday that hopes to help prevent school shootings, suicides and other tragic incidents. The Red Flag Bill prevents those who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing any kind of firearm.

The legislation will allow NY teachers and school officials to alert a judge about students they worry could pose a threat to themselves or others.

The new law would give a judge the power to order a mental evaluation of the student. The judge would also be able to direct that firearms be removed from that student’s home.

According to a press release, recent analysis shows that more than half of all mass shooting suspects exhibit warning signs before carrying out the shooting. The Red Flag Bill hopes to ensure that tragedies like the Parkland shooting, where the suspect was reported to show warning signs previous to the shooting but was allowed to purchase firearms, are not repeated.

Cuomo was joined at the bill signing by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a couple whose son was a teacher killed in the Parkland shooting last year, and by Mark Barden, whose 7-year-old son was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school massacre.

New York lawmakers have passed other bills this year that Cuomo has not signed yet, including bills banning teachers and other school staff from bringing firearms onto school grounds.